CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Institute of Art has invited Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Stephen Vetter, a renowned international and domestic development specialist, for an intensive, weeklong visit to campus from Oct. 6-10, 2014. Vetter will present to classes, deliver lectures, participate in a civic dialog, and answer questions in a nationally broadcast free speech forum. He will also meet informally with students, faculty, staff, and board members throughout the week to share his practical knowledge in the areas of fighting poverty and promoting economic development and democracy.

“Stephen Vetter will bring a fascinating perspective to CIA. Our students will have a chance to meet a world-class international development specialist with deep knowledge of social justice, helping to create better understanding and new connections between the academic and nonacademic worlds,” said CIA President Grafton Nunes. “We’re delighted that Steve will also have time to get to know our CIA community and to explore in depth how our students of art and design relate to the broader society.”

Nunes will interview Vetter at The City Club of Cleveland, the oldest continuous free speech forum in the country, on Friday, Oct. 10 at noon. The City Club’s weekly program is broadcast on public radio stations throughout the country.

Vetter is president and CEO of Partners of the Americas, a private, nonprofit, non-partisan organization whose network of partnerships creates opportunity, fosters understanding, and solves real-life problems. The Partners network includes 80 grassroots chapters and 5,000 volunteers and civic leaders in 25 countries.

Prior to his arrival at Partners of the Americas, Vetter held a number of executive-level positions at the Inter-American Foundation and served as the president and CEO of Eureka Communities.

He also has served on a number of philanthropic, nonprofit, and corporate boards and committees and currently serves on the advisory board of the 911 Fund, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, and Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance. Vetter received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics from Ohio University and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

The Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows program, which is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC, brings prominent artists, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and other professionals to campuses across the United States for a weeklong residential program of classes, seminars, workshops, lectures, and informal discussions. For 35 years, the Visiting Fellows have been introducing students and faculty members at liberal arts colleges to a wide range of perspectives on life, society, community, and achievement. The Visiting Fellows program is available to all four-year colleges and universities. More information is available on CIC’s website at www.cic.edu/visitingfellows.

About CIA

Founded in 1882, Cleveland Institute of Art is an accredited, independent college of art and design offering 15 majors in studio art, digital art, craft disciplines, and design. CIA extends its programming to the public through gallery exhibitions; lectures; a robust continuing education program; and the Cinematheque, a year-round art and independent film series. CIA’s public programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. For more information visit www.cia.edu.

About The Council of Independent Colleges

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 580 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and 60 higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.